Commanding a ship is the simplest task in the world

“Commanding a ship is the simplest task in the world, even if at times it seems complicated. A Captain has only to pick good courses of action and to stick to them no matter what. If he is good and generally makes good decisions, his crew will cover for him if he fails occasionally. If he is bad, this fact will soon be known, and he must removed with the speed of light.”

Admiral Nimitz – per anonymous

The photo is of our CNO Admiral Gary Roughead and ADM Stavridis. CDR Stavridis relieved CAPT Roughead as CO, USS Barry. These two obviously picked good courses of action and stuck to them.

FY10 Information Warfare Officer Captains

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE FINE OFFICERS

Mickey Batson – NIOC Suitland
Joe Boogren – Commander, 6th Fleet
David Carson – Commanding Officer – NIOC Menwith Hill Station
Susan Cerovsky – Information Warfare Commander – CCSG 12
Stone Davis – Commanding Officer – NIOC Texas
Eric Dietz – Commander, 3rd Fleet
Justin Kershaw – Commanding Officer – NIOC Yokosuka
Tim Rohrer – Commander, 2nd Fleet
Frank Shaul – Commanding Officer – NIOC Pensacola

It is not aboard

In the words of the Naval Board investigating the mutiny on H.M.S. Bounty:

“If justice be not found in the mind of the Captain, it is not aboard.”

So much depends on the Captain. Explains why the Navy’s command screening boards are so important. NOTE: While on active duty as an (O5 – Commander) commanding officer, I actually failed to screen for command. Imagine being found unfit for a job that you had been doing with great success for about a year. They let me keep my job. It’s perplexing.

Autonomy of command at sea

“The captain, thus, is the sole word of authority aboard the ship, and every decision rests squarely on his shoulders. Even after electronics created the ability to “talk to the boss” around the clock, anywhere in the world, the habit of autonomous operations continues to reside in the naval forces. “Command by Negation,” a concept unique to naval command and control, allows a subordinate commander the freedom to operate as he or she sees best, keeping authorities informed of decisions taken, until the senior overrides a decision. The Navy is the only service that uses the acronym UNODIR (UNless Otherwise DIRected) by which a commanding officer informs the boss of a proposed course of action, and only if the boss overrides it, will it not be taken. The subordinate is informing the boss, not asking permission.”

THE ARMED FORCES OFFICER, 2007